U. Beuers - Böcker

The beginning of a new millennium is an ideal opportunity to look back, to contemplate the present and to envisage what the future might have to offer. This seems particularly appropriate for the rapidly developing field of hepatology. Therefore, the aim of the Falk Symposium 117, Hepatology 2000, held in Munich on 4-6 May 2000, was to offer state-of-the-art information on the most important aspects of hepatology and to discuss the challenges of the future. The presentations were given by experts in their respective areas, providing an update and at the same time incorporating the most recent developments. These proceedings, a tour d'horizon of hepatology at the highest clinical and scientific level, is dedicated to Gustav Paumgartner who has retired from his duties as chairman of the Department of Medicine II at the University of Munich- Großhadern. The scientific organisers take this opportunity to thank their academic teacher and to honour his lifelong engagement and achievements in hepatology. This book is cordially dedicated to him.

Bile acid research has attracted increasing attention from both basic scientists and clinical hepatologists over the last decade. Experimental studies have expanded our knowledge of the role of bile acids in liver disease, and well-designed clinical trials have documented beneficial effects of bile acid treatment for a number of hepatobiliary diseases. These proceedings of an International Falk Workshop held in Munich, January 1995, provide insights into concepts in bile acid chemistry, bile acid synthesis and metabolism, and transport of bile acids across the hepatocyte. The role of bile acids in bile formation, cholestasis and hepatotoxicity are discussed. Finally, the book addresses experimental studies and hypotheses about the putative mechanisms of action of ursodeoxycholic acid in cholestatic liver diseases, and summarizes the clinical applications of bile acid treatment on the basis of controlled clinical trials.